Wood, bowls, cutting boards, spoons etc

I need some help. I have a set of lovely wood bowls that need some food safe oil. I have been using coconut and that's ok as long as I don't put something hot in them.

Someone else suggested walnut oil but I know this will darken the bowls as it stains a bit.
So I'm looking for suggestions on what to oil my wood bowls, cutting boards and spoons with to keep them useful longer.

What Type of Oils are Safe to Use on Your Cutting Board
Posted by Grant Chen on September 13, 2014

There is much conflicting information regarding which oils and substances are appropriate for use to safely maintain cutting boards or butcher blocks. This following list will help identify which products you should use to both sanitize and keep your board looking beautiful for years to come.

Safe and RecommendedMineral Oil

Mineral oil (sometimes called liquid paraffin) is a non-toxic, non-drying product derived from petroleum that is colorless, odorless, and flavorless. Its properties prevent water absorption, which makes food-grade mineral oil (as determined by the Federal Drug Administration) a popular choice for wooden kitchen items such as wooden spoons, bowls, and, of course, cutting boards and butcher blocks. The key word here is food-safe, as there are types of mineral oils that are not safe for human consumption; these are often used as lubricants for machinery or found in auto or hardware stores.

If you are worried about selecting the right mineral oil, product labeled as “white mineral oil” are considered food safe, as these are refined to a certain degree past other oils. Always make sure to carefully read the product's labeling if you are unsure about its proper use. The safest route of course is to buy a mineral oil specifically blended for use in cutting boards such a Howard's Cutting Board Oil or our own brand of Food Grade Mineral Oil.

Regular application of mineral oil will prevent cutting boards from becoming dry and brittle, which can cause a cracked board. A board that is treated with oil also prevents liquids from penetrating the board, which is often the source of germs and bacteria.

Beeswax

Beeswax is also a popular choice for cutting board maintenance. Its a natural wax produced in the bee hives of honey bees and has a variety of applications. Use beeswax to hydrate, shine, and waterproof a cutting board.

You can buy conditioners in readily available bottles such as Howard's Butcher Block Conditioneror melt 1 part beeswax and combine with 4 parts mineral oil in a pot to make your own blend.

(Updated 3/24/15): We now carry a pure plant based, vegan cutting board wax, made from rice and coconut. This is a good option for those allergic to bee pollen or propolis (beeswax) or simply those that are strict vegan.

Coconut Oil (Refractionated)

Coconut oils have recently become highly popular for a variety of purposes, especially in beauty, because it is rich is saturated fats that are good for skin health. Unfortunately, all fats exposed to air eventually go rancid and coconut oil is not immune (even though some bloggers claim otherwise). However, a select group of coconut oils are refined using a refractionation process, which is a fancy way of staying that the oils have been steam distilled. During this distillation process, coconut oil is separated so that the long-chain triglycerides (LCT) are removed and only the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are left. This leaves an almost pure oil that will NOT go rancid, is shelf stable and is superior to most other oils for treating not just cutting boards, but your kitchen utensils, salad bowls, countertops... you get the idea.

Bartow and Son's Vegan Board Oil is a coconut based cutting board oil that is food safe and has added lemon oil essence for antibacterial purposes. Note that not all MCT coconut oils should be considered food safe!

I am so glad you asked this @Ganado. The kid made me a cutting board in shop class and he wants me to use it but I want to protect it first. Plus living in a dry area of the country, I know that I have to oil my wood products often.

A trick I learned from an old cabinet maker, is to paint the end grain of the wood to prevent it from cracking.
Seeing to it the end grains are sealed with something is cheap insurance.

Click to expand...

Yup, sealing end grain is almost critical for all applications. I'd be inclined to find something other than paint for wooden utensils; wish I had a suggestion, but since I've never sealed wooden spoons or bowls, I don't have one.